A case in mind was Fenland's planning committee in November 1977, which came up with a plan to pedestrianise Norfolk Street. As a test, the street was blocked off to traffic by kerbs and bollards whilst the Council put forward their intentions to the local traders.

Having had a shop in Norfolk Street myself, I was always made aware that at least three traders in the street opposed these plans.

I and many others were fully aware that they encouraged their customers to park in the street in fear of losing their trade – when they could have had a great deal more trade had the street been pedestrianised.

There are too many stories of closed shops in Norfolk Street over the past 30 years to ignore, since it was safer to go to Lynn for meat, furniture, electrical and antique requirements.

Norfolk Street had them all. Alas no longer.

If you want to attract tourists you have to have something to attract them and shops work every time. But we have some of the finest architecture in East Anglia. All it needs is for those concerned to get their act together, instead of wasting money on outside studies, and get down and sort these problems out before the town comes to a complete halt, both commercially and traffic-wise.

If we were still connected to the railway that would help reduce the number of visitors' cars. But it has to be done now and not wait another 30 years for change.

OWEN SMITHERS,
Wisbech,
full address supplied.